The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at Linklaters is the ‘gold standard for banking work’, with lawyers praised for ‘commercial nous and efficient deal handling’ as well as for ‘the kind of capable and professional service that you would expect from a leading global firm’. Wilailuk Okanurak is respected for her ‘in-depth knowledge of the market’ and for her ‘strong experience’, and heads a team that includes corporate finance partner Pichitpon Eammongkolchai and newly-promoted partner Wanwisar Nakarat. In a headline deal, the firm advised Sahaviriya Steel on a $1.4bn acquisition financing to purchase Tata Steel’s Teesside Cast Products. Project finance, syndicated loans and real estate finance are also active areas.

Within Corporate and M&A (including capital markets), Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters secured roles on major deals in the natural resources, insurance and retail sectors over the past twelve months. However, the highlight was undoubtedly advising French retailer Groupe Casino, and Thai subsidiary Big C, on its successful $1.2bn bid for Carrefour’s Thai assets, consisting of 42 stores across the country - a hotly contested and high-profile auction. Managing partner Wilailuk Okanurak and corporate finance specialist Pichitpon Eammongkolchai are the main contacts.

Within Projects and energy, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

At Linklaters, energy is a strong niche specialism of the firm’s finance practice under the leadership of the ‘commercial, authoritative and communicative’ Wilailuk Okanurak. Over the past year, the firm advised on a broad range of project financings, corporate matters and refinancings. Most notably, it acted for a Thai power company on its potential $300m acquisition of 49% interest in a coal-fired plant in Vietnam.

Within Real estate and construction, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

At Linklaters, Pichitpon Eammongkolchai is praised as ‘one of the best partners in the market’. Clients commend the firm for its ‘very strong team at both partner level and junior level’ and for its ‘excellent response times and advice’. Corporate matters and structured real estate transactions are the main focus and it advised Pramerica on the €120m disposal of all its shares and subordinated loans in Ananda Development Two.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters’ finance expertise secures the firm a steady flow of structured debt instructions. On the contentious side, the firm is representing International Finance Corporation as creditor on a claim against Finance One’s estate. Pichitpon Eammongkolchai is highly active.

Within TMT, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters is advising mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) on regulatory issues relating to its concession agreement with TOT in a case worth over $1bn. In another example of its regulatory prowess, the firm was instructed by Thailand’s Ministry of Finance to advise it on the termination of the state concession regime. Transactional work is also a strong area and the team advises banks and telecoms companies on corporate finance matters. Wilailuk Okanurak is a ‘leader in the field’.